Oregon Public Broadcasting

The University of Oregon will not comment on a lawsuit filed Monday by a group of former wrestlers.

The lawsuit alleges the University unfairly terminated the school's wrestling program this year.

Some wrestlers say their program was cut to make room for two new sports - baseball and competitive cheerleading.

Kevin Roberts is a former U of O wrestler and currently an assistant wrestling coach at Oregon State University.

He's not involved in the lawsuit, but says wrestling fans don't have a problem with a new baseball team.

Kevin Roberts: “Some people think this is wrestling people being resentful and picking a fight with the University. And really, wrestling people just want to have their sport and the opportunities for their kids. And, hey, court is just a way to get something resolved. The U of O did wrong on this and we just want to get it resolved.”

Last year, the University of Oregon announced it would field an intercollegiate baseball team in 2009 -- for the first time in almost three decades.

Federal laws require schools to invest in women's sports, and so the university also introduced the competitive cheerleading program.

Originally the University of Oregon said the termination of wrestling was due to the federal gender equality requirements - but now says the team was cut because it wasn't popular.